Articles
Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.
742 results found
Article
Lipomyelomeningocele
Lipomyelomeningoceles are one of the forms of closed spinal dysraphism. They usually present as a subcutaneous fatty mass just above the intergluteal cleft. However, some lipomyelomeningoceles may occur at other locations along the spinal canal.
Clinical presentation
Lipomyelomeningoceles may ...
Article
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition (CPPD) disease, also known as pyrophosphate arthropathy or pseudogout, is defined by the co-occurrence of arthritis with evidence of CPPD deposition within the articular cartilage.
Terminology
The terminology regarding CPPD disease has been confusing...
Article
Aggressive vertebral hemangioma
Aggressive vertebral hemangiomata are a rare form of vertebral hemangiomata where significant vertebral expansion, extra-osseous component with epidural extension, disturbance of blood flow, and occasionally compression fractures can be present causing spinal cord and/or nerve root compression 1...
Article
Genant classification of vertebral fractures
The Genant classification of vertebral fractures is based on the vertebral shape, with respect to vertebral height loss involving the anterior, posterior, and/or middle vertebral body as seen on lateral radiographs of the thoracic or lumbar spine 1.
Usage
The Genant classification has been use...
Article
Annulus fibrosus
The annulus fibrosus (plural: annuli fibrosi) surrounds the nucleus pulposus and together they form the intervertebral disc.
Gross anatomy
The annulus comprises 15 to 20 collagenous (type I) laminae which run obliquely from the edge of one vertebra down to the edge of the vertebra below. The d...
Article
Camptocormia
Camptocormia, also known as bent spine syndrome or cyphose hystérique, is a rare syndrome characterized by involuntary flexion of the thoracolumbar spine with weight-bearing which reduces when lying down, and is due to isolated atrophy of the paraspinal muscles.
Epidemiology
In a small case se...
Article
Intradural spinal lipoma
Intradural lipomas are a subset of spinal lipomas. They are typically intradural, subpial, juxtamedullary lesions 1 although they have occasionally been reported as entirely intramedullary lesions 2.
Mature fatty tissue within the spinal dura can be seen in a number of entities:
lipomyelocele/...
Article
Cervical spine (AP view)
The anteroposterior (AP) cervical spine projection is part of the cervical spine series.
Indications
This projection helps to visualize pathology relating to C3-C7 in the anatomical position, demonstrating any compression fractures, clay-shoveler fractures and herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) ...
Article
Sagittal vertical axis
Sagittal vertical axis/alignment (SVA) is one of the simplest and most widely used methods to assess sagittal balance 1-3.
Measurement
This measurement is performed on lateral standing full-length spine x-rays. A plumb line is drawn vertically from the middle of the C7 vertebral body 1,2 or th...
Article
Spinopelvic balance
Spinopelvic balance is an important concept in adult spinal deformities. There are numerous ways of assessing spinopelvic balance, using various bony landmarks and angles to evaluate whether or not a normal distribution of weight and stresses is present through the axial skeleton, some incorpora...
Article
Sagittal balance
Sagittal balance, along with coronal balance, reflects the innate neutral standing position with C7 positioned over S1 1.
Pathology
Sagittal balance can change depending on various factors, including spinal deformities such as a loss of lumbar lordosis 1.
Radiographic features
Radiographic...
Article
Straight back syndrome
Straight back syndrome refers to decreased thoracic kyphosis ("flattening") and decreased anteroposterior thoracic diameter, such that there is compression of cardiovascular or bronchial structures.
Terminology
Straight back syndrome should not be confused with flat back syndrome, which refer...
Article
Kyphosis
Kyphosis (plural: kyphoses), much less commonly kyphus, is a term used to describe the sagittal curvature of the thoracic spine. Hyperkyphosis is when the kyphosis angle is above the normal range 5,7.
Pathology
Kyphosis increases with age, with a kyphosis angle of ~25° (range 20-29°) in adoles...
Article
Red and yellow flags for guiding imaging of lower back pain
Lower back pain (also known as lumbago) is very common and is often referred for imaging. However, the vast majority of cases are due to benign self-limiting causes which do not require imaging and resolve with conservative measures. Numerous authors have described various methods for supporting...
Article
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) refers to the hematogenous spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Pathology
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis can occur as a primary form of the disease, i.e. direct infection of an extrapulmonary organ without the presence of primary pulmonary tuberculosis or it can ...
Article
Spinal muscular atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy is a type of congenital neuromuscular disease affecting anterior horn cells of the brainstem and spinal cord.
Epidemiology
This disorder affects 1 in 6000-10000 infants 1.
Clinical presentation
Spinal muscular atrophy typically affects infants and young children, pres...
Article
Disc extrusion
Disc extrusion is a type of intervertebral disc herniation and is distinguished from a disc protrusion in that it:
in at least one plane, has a broader dome (B) than a neck (A)
and/or
extends above or below the disc level (into the suprapedicular or infrapedicular zone)
Disc extrusions are a...
Article
Ligamentum nuchae
The ligamentum nuchae or nuchal ligament is a large median ligament composed of tendons and fascia located between the posterior muscles of the neck.
Gross anatomy
The ligament nuchae covers the spines of C1 to C6 vertebrae. It is a superior and posterior extension of the supraspinous ligament...
Article
Spondylodiscitis
Spondylodiscitis, (rare plural: spondylodiscitides) also referred to as discitis-osteomyelitis, is characterized by infection involving the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebrae.
Terminology
In adults, the use of the term discitis is generally discouraged as isolated infection of the spin...
Article
Systemic lupus erythematosus (CNS manifestations)
Central nervous system manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (CNS lupus), also known as neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), describe a very diverse range of neuropsychiatric manifestations that are secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the central nervous...
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